ICAN/ATEX: What kind of prep work is needed to strip and finish an open staircase?

January 15, 2013

Many cleaning professionals visit the International Custodial Advisers Network (ICAN) Ask the Experts page for insight and, every business day, we deliver advice to better help you perform your job.

Tuesday’s Question:

Could you please address taping off and other prep work including procedural recommendations for stripping and finishing an open terrazzo staircase with windows from the second floor to the ground level?

The individual stairs are not open, just the sides of the stairway.

This is difficult to describe; the main issue I am concerned about is the running over of slurry and finish during the work process while still allowing a complete strip and recoat to be performed.

Of course, there is a safety railing that is mounted into the stairs.

We have sheets of plastic and tape, but stripper runs beneath the tape in other work situations we have performed.

Tuesday’s Answer:

There will be run-off or run-over only if a heavy solution is applied and the tread flooded.

So, don't do that.

Instead, apply the stripper with any device that will allow it to be spread and agitated without loss of control.

While a string mop may not do that, a dedicated microfiber pad can.

Place the stripper carefully with a saturated but not dripping pad, work it in, allow the recommended dwell time, agitate with the pad again, vacuum the slurry, rinse with the same sort of application technique, vacuum the rinse, damp mop to finish and let dry.

A no-rinse stripper works well for … - Lynn E. Krafft, ICAN/ATEX editor